In addition to the development of our hockey players and enjoyment of the sport of hockey, the safety and protection of our participants is central to Middleton Youth Hockey’s (MYH) goals. MYH adheres to USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program to help protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse, and other types of misconduct, including emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment, and hazing. To help prevent abuse or misconduct from occurring in our locker rooms, MYH has adopted the following locker room policy. This policy is designed to maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms.

At Bob Suter's Legacy 20 Arena - Middleton, there are multiple locker rooms available for our program’s use. Most of the locker rooms share a restroom and shower area with one or more locker rooms. Some teams in our program will also occasionally or regularly travel to play games at other arenas, and those locker rooms, rest rooms, and shower facilities will vary from location to location. MYH’s team organizers (coaches or team managers) will attempt to provide information on the locker room facilities in advance of games away from our home arena as soon as practically possible when requested. At arenas in which you are unfamiliar, parents should plan to have extra time and some flexibility in making arrangements for their child to dress, undress, and shower if desired.

Locker Room Monitoring

MYH has predictable and limited use of locker rooms and changing areas. This allows for direct and regular monitoring of locker room areas. Participants are not allowed to enter the locker rooms unless the Coach or a Coach approved monitor is present in the locker room. Violation of this rule can result in the player losing their privileges and will result in the player having to dress before arriving at the rink. A coach and voluntary locker room monitors will be posted directly inside of the locker rooms and changing areas during periods of use, and leave the doors open only when adequate privacy is still possible, so that only participants (coaches and players), approved team personnel and family members are permitted in the locker room.

Team personnel will also secure the locker room appropriately during times when the team is on the ice.

Parents in Locker Rooms

Except for players at the younger age groups, we discourage parents from entering locker rooms unless it is truly necessary. If a player needs assistance with his or her uniform or gear, if the player is or may be injured, or a player’s disability warrants assistance, then we ask that parents let the coach know beforehand that he or she will be helping the player. Coaches and Team Managers, at their discretion, may prohibit parents from a locker room.

Mixed-Gender Teams

Many of our teams consist of both male and female players. It is important that the privacy rights of all our players are given consideration and appropriate arrangements made. Where possible, MYH will have the male and female players dress/undress in separate locker rooms and then convene in a single locker room before the game or team meeting. Once the game or practice is finished, the players may come to one locker room for a team meeting and then the male and female players proceed to their separate locker rooms to undress and shower, if available. If separate locker rooms are not available, and if privacy is requested by a player, then the players will take turns using the locker room to change. We understand that there arrangements may require that players will take turns using the locker room to change. We understand that these arrangements may require that players arrive earlier or leave later to dress but believe that this is the most reasonable way to accommodate and respect all our players.

Cell Phones and Other Mobile Recording Devices

Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras are not permitted to be in the locker rooms. If phones or other mobile devices must be used, they should be outside of the locker room. If a player requires their cell phone for a specific reason (i.e. medical monitoring), they may request a variance of this rule of possession of their phone while in the locker room. If the player needs to use their phone for that purpose, they must still leave the locker room, otherwise it is to be kept in the player’s bag and may not be used for any purpose except as identified in the variance request.

Prohibited Conduct and Reporting

MYH prohibited all types of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats harassment, and hazing, all as described in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook.

Violations

Participants or volunteers may be subject to disciplinary action for violation of these locker room policies or for engaging in any misconduct or abuse or that violates the USA Hockey SafeSport Policies. Reports of any actual or suspected violation may result in MYH being fined $500 and disciplinary action taken against the coach. Actual or suspected violations should be reported to the appropriate MYH Age Level Director and MYH Board President.